B illed as "The People's Palace," Alexandra Palace rests on a hilltop amid 196 acres of land outside of London. Thought the grounds were originally 300 acres, it is still a showplace, and a getaway. A recreation zone, and an exhibition space. It started in 1873 as a place where people form the city could go to get away from it all. Thousands of people flooded the facility when it opened. But the fun didn't last long. Just 16 days after it opened, the place burned to the ground. Within two years it was open again, entertaining generations of people. It has an indoor ice skating rink, a conservatory with a glass roof, banquet facilities, parks, playgrounds, and more. Its most important footnote in history, however, is the fact that this was the first television home of the British Broadcasting Company. In 1936, the BBC made its first television broadcast from the tower next to the palace. It remained the Beeb's center of activity until the 1950's, but to this day the tower still carries four television channels, and six radio stations. The tower's height is 220 feet, but the building is over 300 feet above sea level, making this an important transmission point. And as an entertainment and concert venue, the BBC thoughtfully built a concrete ramp that a television camera could be wheeled down in order to provide live broadcasts of events at the Palace.
1873 - Alexandra Palace opens.
1873 - Alexandra Palace burns to the ground.
1875 - Alexandra Palace is re-built.
1936 - The BBC's first public television transmissions originate from the Alexandra Palace.
10 July, 1980 - The Palace burns. Nearly half of the building is destroyed.
Mike Graff
Saturday, November 28th, 2009 @ 3:47pm
The trouble with the steam railway around the boating lake was that it used to go too fast around the first bend, which is why it tipped over, killing and injuring all those people. It did continue to run however, but at a much slower pace!H&S issues would have scrapped / banned it today!!
Mike Graff
Saturday, November 28th, 2009 @ 3:40pm
I also remember the boating lake steam railway accident when 6 people died, and many moe injured. 1954 I think.
Mike Graff
Saturday, November 28th, 2009 @ 3:37pm
I remember the steep main road hill leading up to the palace. At the bottom of this hill was an old sweet shop just before the railway bridge over the main line to the north. One year circa 1955, this steep hill was the last stage in the UK cycle tour of britain.
Mike Graff
Saturday, November 28th, 2009 @ 7:27pm
Rating: Five stars. I lived in Aleaxndra Park Road, 1953 to 1958 just below the Ally Pally.I played in the then called 'bunny hills' and roller skated at the rink many times.I remember the large fun fair every year, and the boating lake, when the steam train that went around the lake, overturned on a fast corner, crashed and killed about 6 people, and injured many more. A sad time.
Marc J Quigley-Ferriday
Sunday, September 14th, 2008 @ 6:11pm
Rating: Four stars. This wonderfully iconic building, is clearly visible in the far distance from the South Bank of the Thames, as I noticed recently, when looking out of a window on the 22nd Floor of the Union Jack Club in Waterloo.
glyn jones
Saturday, January 12th, 2008 @ 2:12pm
Rating: Four stars. I worked on the fairground whilst at college about 1958. I also travelled on the old steam railway!
Gabrielle Seymour
Monday, October 29th, 2007 @ 8:38am
I rollerskated there from the mid 60's until 1970 as a small child and belonged to the rollerskating club i am trying to get archives and memories of rollerskating there at that time, for a film i am trying to develop can anyone help with info? memories?
eric hardy
Sunday, July 29th, 2007 @ 6:02pm
Rating: Five stars. There is a bronze head bust situated inside the building of Charles Henry Hocken, 1940's does anyone know the history of this man why is the bust thereIt may not be there now thanks so much
Janet White
Sunday, September 10th, 2006 @ 12:48pm
Rating: Five stars. iremeber rolling skating Saturday mornings, the boating lake, and the fun fair, I also remember the old mansion house at the foot of Ally Pally, does anyone else?Us kids spent all our school holidays up there. My father and I used to walk up Ally Pally every Sunday with our dog, come rain or shine. great memories!
Tim Ford
Sunday, July 9th, 2006 @ 6:36pm
I lived just a short distance from 'Alley Pally' and visited regularly during the late 50's and 60's. Beautiful imposing buildings, the Great Hall housing one of, if not the largest pipe organ in the world. Some of the first tv pictures were transmitted by the BBC and the giant ariel can be seen for miles. The skating rink was a major part of my early teens. A boating lake, fairground and other attractions made the palace a great place to visit.
Darren Roberts
Monday, May 15th, 2006 @ 10:44am
Rating: Five stars. I can see the palace from my street. It is such a prominant landmark for the whole of north london - I feel it should pass into the hnds of the national trust or english heritage an a project begun to restore it to its original 1875 use - plus the historic BBC alterations.As it currently stands it is a huge shame.
Peter Hogan
Friday, January 13th, 2006 @ 8:49pm
Rating: Five stars. In the 1950's/60's the West wing had a roller skating rink, advertised as having a "Canadian" maple floor. Skates were wooden wheels on alloy plates, with boxing boots for comfort. Large crowds attended the skating, dancing and racing sessions that attracted international skaters. It was a major stop on the European racing circuit.
Victoria Salmon
Saturday, November 27th, 2004 @ 7:53am
Rating: Two stars. My grandmother & family were billeted here during 1st world war as belgian refugees. This was one of several places the Belgian refugees were housed until being dispersed throughout England until it was deemed safe for them to return to their own country.
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Mike Graff
Five stars.
Marc J Quigley-Ferriday
Four stars.
glyn jones
eric hardy
Two stars.